The Halawa Xeriscape Garden displays a series of xeric (dry) plants in a residential-scale setting to demonstrate species capable of providing a visually attractive garden, while using less water than most currently popular plants. It was opened to public in September 1989, after several years of effort by the Board of Water Supply, as a way to educate Oahu residents on ways to save water in lawns, gardens, and landscaped areas.

In these demonstration gardens, you can familiarize yourself with the kinds of plants and grasses that need less irrigation, as well as the variety of approaches that use water more efficiently in the garden.  These approaches include irrigation techniques, cultural practices, and landscaping ideas that will provide for drought-tolerant gardens and landscapes. 

Among the water-efficient irrigation systems demonstrated in the Halawa Xeriscape Garden are automatic timers, moisture sensors, rain shutdown devices, and low output irrigation equipment such as spray sprinkler heads, micro-spray sprinkler heads, emitters and dripper lines.

Suggested cultural practices that can save water are also seen at Halawa. These include: mulching, soil alteration, turf mowing practices, thinning of planted areas, weed control, and fertilization.

Some kinds of plants need far less water than others; there is a wide range of "less thirstiness." To illustrate that range, the Halawa Xeriscape Garden is divided into several sections.

The Hawaiian Garden showcases a planting of native species adapted to hot, dry conditions. They are attractive, readily grown, and require far less water than most exotics.

The International Garden boasts a collection of plants from the world's dry tropics. It includes newly-introduced experimental species whose reaction to varying levels of drought will be evaluated over the next several years. The introduction and evaluation program is an important aspect of the xeriscape project.

The Bromeliad Garden features a collection of "less thirsty" pineapple relatives from the tropics of the New World. This garden presents a kaleidoscopic palette of species of widely varying forms and sized for both sun and shade in the xeriscape.

The Tree Garden is a collection of drought-tolerant tree species, including several experimental species from all over the globe.

Free tours are offered by appointment; self-guided tours and visits to the garden are available on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.  Please call our Communications Office at 748-5041 (Monday thru Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) for more information. 

The garden is located at 99-1268 Iwaena Street, Aiea, Hawaii 96701.